Hiram eyes end to long slump

Coach Bob Wolfe, entering his second season, and first-year assistants Brian Hudson and Doug Miller hope that the largest roster in school history — 100 players — will turn out to be a deciding factor in helping Hiram to break out of a 26-game losing streak, including 0-10 last year in Wolfe’s first season.

The Terriers’ last win came on Oct. 1, 2005, over Earlham, 7-2, in an NCAC game. Since joining the NCAC in 2000, Hiram has struggled through a 5-52 record in circuit.

The nation’s all-time record for the longest losing streak in NCAA Division III is 50 games held by Macalester (Minn.) College in 1974-79.

Wolfe, who has coached Warren Harding High and has been an assistant coach at Youngstown State, is hopeful Hiram can end the long slump this season.

“Not only will we have the largest team in terms of numbers the school has ever seen, but we have also brought in some guys [who] could be some real ‘players’ at this level,” said Wolfe, who has 39 lettermen including 15 starters.

Hudson, a Harding graduate who lives in Youngstown, will coach the wide receivers. Miller, a former coach for Niles High and Harding who lives in Warren, will coach the offensive line.

The other new coaching additions on the 13-man coaching staff are Charles Johnson (defensive backs), Jim Corrigall (defensive ends) and Bill Terry (running backs).

Hudson, Miller recruit

in the Youngstown area

Hudson, a three-year letterwinner in football and basketball at Harding will be in charge of recruiting in Trumbull County. Miller will head recruiting in Mahoning County as well as 11 states.

Travis Everhart, Hiram’s offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, will recruit Columbiana County.

The Pennsylvania recruiter will be Ryan David, a part-time coach who helps out with defensive backs.

Hudson, while at Harding, gained first-team All-Conference in both football and basketball, and was a Trumbull County Defensive Player of the Year. He went on to play semi-pro football with the Colorado Springs Flames.

After his playing days, Hudson returned to Harding where he served as freshman coach in 2005-06 and as an assistant coach with the varsity squad in 2006-07. Prior to coming to Hiram, Hudson was an assistant varsity coach at Niles High.

Miller is a graduate of The Citadel, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and was a member of the football, wrestling and rugby teams.

He came to Hiram from a previous football coaching position at Niles High. He also has coached football at Harding and within the Atlanta City School District.

Miller resides Warren with his wife, Sharon. They have two children, Sean and Brenna.

Majernik is among 13

area players on roster

Among the 13 area players on the Hiram roster are juniors Pat Majernik, punter-placekicker from South Range; Lee Sham, wide receiver from Kennedy Catholic; and Andrew Devon, offensive lineman, Beaver Local.

The others are freshmen, four of whom are from Niles High: Daniel Rosenberger, kick returner; Jeffrey Petrilli, two-way lineman; Theodore Sloban, placekicker; and Chris Lykins, linebacker.

Three players are from Springfield Local — Jarrod Lewis, linebacker, wide receiver and running back; Dominic Latessa, offensive lineman; and Brandon Goist, wide receiver. Two are from Liberty: Ira Cross, running back-defensive back; and David Gilliam, freshman wide receiver-defensive back.

The other area player is Lucas Buckner, freshman linebacker from Mathews.

XJohn Kovach writes about college athletes for The Vindicator. Write him at kovach@vindy.com